candee



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. L. CANDEE.

" SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SYSTEMS.

No. 260,937. Patented July 11, 1882.

T JL r INVENTUFi:

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2.

I W. L. GANDEE.

SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SYSTEMS. No. 260,937. Patented July 11, 1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLARD L. GANDEE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC-LIGHT SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 260,937, dated July 11,1882.

' Application filed May 3, 1882. (No model.)

My invention is designed more particularlyfor application to theJoblochkoft' system of electric lighting, in which each of the two ormore general circuits passes through the J ablochkofl' candles of achandelier, suitable arrangements, automatic or otherwise, beingemployed to shift the current from one circuit to another in successionas the candles are consumed; and my object is to provide a means wherebythe lighting-current may at any point of the system be transferred atpleasure and without interference with other chandeliers or lights ofthe same system from the chandelier and the candle which is for the timebeing in action in said chandelier to a drop-light or stand-lightcontaining a single candle and located in a branch circuit at any pointnear to or remote from the chandelier.

My invention consists, generally speaking, in taking from eachof thegeneral-circuit wires a branch wire,which is made to terminate normallyin a contact plate, stud, or surface of a switch, and in employing aspring or connecting-plate operated by hand, and so arranged as tobridge, when operated, the several contact studs or points of the branchwires simultaneously with a contact stud or point joined to one end ofthe wire which is connected to the drop-1i ght or stand, so thatwhichever general circuit is in use the drop-light circuit will beconnected to an operating-circuit, while, moreover, the branch wiresbeing normally disconnected, (since they terminate in separate contactplates or studs,) no cross-connection is formed from the wire of acircuit in use to some other wire, while the chandelier is connected inthe general circuits. In conjunction with the above arrangement of thecircuit-connections, I cause the general circuit or circuits for thechandelier to be normally completed through the switch in such a waythat when the switch is operated to connect in the droplight orstand-light the general circuits through the chandelier are interrupted.In order to prevent interruption to other lights in the same system, theparts are by preference so arranged that the branch wires are connectedto the drop-light wire at the moment before the general circuits throughthe chandelier are broken, and vice versa.

My invention consists, further, of certain specific constructions ofswitch for producing the above-mentioned changes, the nature of whichwill be hereinafter described, and then I specified in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of oneconstruction and arrangement of circuits employed in carrying out myinvention. Fig. 2 is a partial section of the switch block or base,showing the construction and manner of attachment of a contact plate orsurface. Fig. 3 is a top View of the connecting spring or plate wherebythe circuit is completed between the various contact plates or surfaces.Fig. 4 is a plan view ofa modified form of switch. Fig. 5is aview ofanother form of switch, in which the connecting-plate has a circularinstead of a rectilinear motion, like the connecting-plateshown in Fig.1, and which is adapted to be placed at any point of the generalsystemas, forinstance, between the generator and another chandelier-theform shown 'in Fig. 1 being only designed for use in connection with theterminal chandelier of a system. Fig. 6 is a top view of the switch-boxreduced in size, showing the operatingpointers and indications upon thebox-cover. Fig. 7 is avertical diametrical section of the switch; andFig. 8, adetail view, showing how a limited movement is permitted to oneof the two concentric pointers independent of the other.

Referring to Fig. 1, which represents aswitch designed for use with thechandelier at the terminal of a system remote from the generator, orwith the chandelier of a system to which but one chandelier isconnected, A rep- I resents diagrammatically a. chandelier of anyordinary construction, containing six J abloch- ICO koft' candles orother lights, supplied by six general-circuit wires, 1 2 3 4t 5 6, inthe usual manner, said circuits, after passing the chandelier, beingmerged in a common conductor, 7, as is ordinary when but one chandelieris used in the system, or when that chandelier is the terminal one ofthe system.

B represents the drop-light or stand-light to be switched intoconnection with the oper- .iting-eircuit. From each general-circuit wire1 2 3 4. 5 6 runs aseparate wire, carried through a cable, 0, or in anyother suitable manner, to one of six contact plates or studs,(represented at D,) which are separately secured to the baseblock E, andare insulated from one another in the usual way. By preference theplates D are constructed in the manner shown in Fig. 2. As hereindicated, the plate is flush, or nearly so, with the top of the blockE, and terminates in a binding-screw connection, F, projecting beyondthe base-block and serving for attachment of the branch wire runningfrom the general circuit.

G represents a contact plate or stud similar to the plate D, butinsulated therefrom, and forming the termination of a wire, 8, leadingfrom one pole of a drop or stand light, B, the other pole of which isconnected by a wire, 9, with a contact-plate, H, upon the opposite endof the block E from the plates D. The contact-plate H is also connectedto a wire, 10, which forms the return-conductor to the generator of thesystem. The common returnwire 7, leading immediately from thechandelier, is connected to a similar contact-plate, I. A reciprocatingconnecting-plate, K, mounted upon the block E, and movable to and frothrough a handle, L, by any suitable mechanical device, is adapted torest either upon the contact-plates D G simultaneously or simultaneouslyupon the plates H I. The latter is its normal position when thechandelier A is in use. The plate K, which may be operated by aneccentric, M, Fig. 3, engaging with the edges of a slot in the plate andconnected to the spindle to which handle L is joined, is of such lengththat when it is at the extremity of its movement in one direction and incontact with plates at one end of block Eitis out of contact with theplates at the other. It is also of the proper length to make contactwith the plates at one end at the instant before it breaks contact withthose at the other. The ends of the plate should be slit so that it maymake sure contact, and studs a a, fixed in the base-block and projectingthrough slots in the plate, serve to limit its movement.

The operation is as follows: When the chandelier is in use the plate Krests on the two plates H I, bridging them and connecting the wires 710, so that the current on any one of the general circuitsl to (3 mayreturn to the generator in the ordinary way. In this position of theplate K it is out of contact with the plates D G, so that the branchwires terminating in plates D are out of connection with the wire 8,leading to the drop-light. If it is desired to bring the drop-light Binto use, the arm L is turned so as to carry the plateK into connectionwith the contacts D and G and out of connection with the plates H I,thus interrupting the general circuit through the chandelier, butsimultaneously, or at the moment before the interruption takes place,forming the connection between all the branch wires and the wire 8 ofthe drop-light, so that the electric current from whichever of thegeneral wires is in use will flow through its branch wire andcontact-plate D, connecting-plate K, contact-plate G, wire 8, lamp 13,wire 9, and return-conductor 10.

It is obvious that the plate K might be made to control the generalcircuits by interrupting and completing the individual wires instead ofinterrupting and completing the return-conductor 7, and that othermodifications might be made in the circuits without changing theprinciple of operation. Such an arrangement would, however, renderitnecessary to employ as many plates I as general circuit wires, as willpresently appear from the description of the switch to be employed, atapoint between the generator and another chandelier, or be tween twochandeliers.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the connecting-plate K is supposedto havea circular instead of a rectilinear movement, being mounted at 1)upon a suitable spindle or pivot. When in the position shown in fulllines the plates D, forming the terminals of the branch wires, areconnected, as before, to the plate or contact surface G, forming oneterminal of the branch containing the drop-light, the other terminalot'which connects with the return-circuit wire 10 through a binding-post,as shown. The connection between the arc-shaped plate I, connected tothe chandelier, and the plateH, connected to wire 10, being thenuncomplcted, the chandelier is out of circuit. When the switch-plate Kis turned to occupy the position shown in dotted lines, H and I areconnected; butall of the plates D are disconnected from G, so that nocurrent can pass to the drop-light. The latter arrangement is adaptedonly for use with a chandelier which is used alone upon the generalcircuits, since, as will be observed, the plate K, in passing from theposition shown in full lines to a position where it will connect platesHI, will interrupt the flow of current on the general-circuit wires. Theplates may, however, be so arranged with relation to one another that nointerruption shall occur.

Figs. 5, 6, 7 illustrate a form of my switch adapted for use at anypoint of a system, and with any number of chandeliers in the samegeneral circuits.

A represents the chandelier, and 1 2 3 4 5 6 the general-circuit wires,which, instead of being merged in a common conductor after passingthrough the chandelier, are continued on independently of one another tothe can- IM M dies of another chandelier through the switch to bedescribed.

The chandelier, being of any ordinary construction, need not bedescribed in detail.

The switch is constructed as follows:

N represents a circular block of any suitable material, upon which theparts of the switch are mounted.

D D, &c., are contacts, points, or plates mounted on the edge of theblock N, either in the manner before described or in any other suitablemanner, and connected respectively with the general-circuit wires 1 2 3at 5 6.

G is the contact point or plate connected to one pole of the drop-light.

P represents a plate of insulating material, which carries acircuit-closin g plate, R, adapted to bear simultaneously upon thepoints D D, &c., and G, and also carries six separate insulatedcircuit-closing plates or springs, (I, each of which is adapted tocomplete the circuitbetween one of the six plates 0 O, 850., connectedto the chandelier, and one of six similar plates, S, to which areattached the general-circuit wires leading through cable at to the nextchandelier of the system. The plate P is so constructed and mounted thatit can turn through the small are of a circle to a sutticient distanceto bring the connecting plates or springs (1 into and out of contactwith the points 0 S, and also to move the plate B into and out ofcontact with the plates D G. For this. purpose it is attached in anysuitable manner to the stem T, carrying a pointer, f. The movement ofthe plateP may belimited by means of pins passing up through a slot inthe plate, as shown in Fig. 5.

Passing down through the stem T, and movable independently thereof, is ametal spindle, W, carrying a pointer, h, and a contact-sprin g, 7.,attached to the spindle in any suitable manner, and projecting through asemicircular opening in T, as indicated in Fig. 8. Spindle W may beturned so as to cause the spring k to make contact with any one of theplates S,

and is electrically connected in any suitable manner with abinding-post, n, to which latter is connected a wire from one pole ofthe droplight B, the other pole of said light being connected, as beforementioned, to the contact plate or point G.

The parts being thus constructed and connected, the operation is asfollows: When the chandelier is in use the switch is in the'positionshown in the drawings, and the various general circuits are completedindependently of one another through the plates 0, springs d, and platesS, so that the candles in the various chandeliers on those circuits maybe consecutively thrown into circuit as occasion requires. Thedrop-light B is out of circuit, plate It being disconnected fromcontact-plate G. If the drop-lightB is to be employed, itis firstnecessary to ascertain which one of the general-circuit wires is in use,which having been done, the pointer h is first turned so as to bring thespring it into connection with the plate S of that general-circuit wire,thus making the proper connection from one pole of the drop-light. Tomake connection from the other pole, the pointer f is turned so as tomove the plate P and cause the plate R to make contact with the plates Gand D D, &c. In this operation the springs d are carried out ofconnection with the plates 0 S, thus breaking the general circuitsthrough the chandelier, so that the current upon the particular wire inuse now flows to its contact-plate 1), and through R to G, and to thedrop-light, the continuation being to post a, and through the spindleand spring to the plate S, upon which the spring rests, and through thegeneral-circuit wire to the next chandelier.

In order to prevent interruption to the general circuit, the parts areso arranged and proportioned that the plate R will come into contactwith its points D at the instant before the springs 61 break contactwith studs or points 0 S, and vice versa.

To remove the drop-light from circuit the plate P is merely restored toits original position. The spring It need not be moved.

Many modifications in the manner ot'mounting and operating thecircuit-closing devices may be employed without departing from thespirit of my invention. The construction shown illustrates but onemethod of carrying out the same.

It will also beobvious that the circuit-closing devices themselves maybe modified in many ways.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination, substantially as described, of two or more circuit-wires, a chandelier included in saidcircuits, a switch plate or connector for completing the connection between the chandelier and the wire or wires formingthe continuation ofthe circuit, switch contact points or studs connected to the variouswires, and a-circuit-closer for completing the circuit between saidcontact-points and a contact-point forming one terminal ot'a branch wirecontaining a single-light.

2. The combination, substantially as de scribed, in an electric-lightsystem employing a number of general-circuit wires that are used inturn, of a branch wire from each general circuit to a contact point orsurface of a switch, and a conducting plate or spring arranged in themanner described, to bridge all of said contact-plates simultaneouslywith a contact plate or point connected to a wireleading to a droplight.

3. The combination, substantially as described, of achandeliercontaining several electric lights or candles,each fed by an independentcircuit wire, a drop or stand light connected to a branch wire, contactplates, points. or studs forming the independent terminals of branchwires from the general circuits, a circuit-closer for completing thecircuit between said plates, points, or studs and the droplight, acircuit closer and breaker for breaking and closing the general circuitsor their common return-wire, and means for simultaneously operating saidcircuit closing and breaking devices, as described.

4. The combination, substantially as described, of two or moregeneral-circuit wires, including a chandelier, a branch-wire containinga drop-light or stand-light, and means, as described, for simultaneouslyconnecting all of said general-circuit wires to the drop-light andbreaking the general-circuit wires around the drop-light containing thechandelier.

5. The combination, substantially as described, of the baseblock and thecontactplate 1), let into the edge of the block flush with the topsurface, and formed at its portion projecting laterally from the blockinto a bindin g-post.

6. The combination, substantially as described, of an electric-lightchandelier, two or more general-circuit wires, a switch interposed insaid circuit-wires, contact points, plates, or studs connected to saidcircuits on either side of the switch, and circuit closing springs d,mounted upon a common support and adapted to complete said circuits atthe same time.

7. The combination, substantially as described, of a base-block ofinsulating material, contact plates or studs, each connected to one ofseveral circuit-wires leading'to an electriclight chandelier, and acircuit -closing plate constructed as'described, and adapted to restupon all of said contact plates or studs at once and upon a contactplate or stud connected to a stand-lamp.

8; The combination, substantially as described, of an electric-lightchandelier, two or more independent general-circuit wires, switchdevices for simultaneously breaking said independent circuits, means forcompleting a connection between all of said circuit-wires, and one poleof a stand or drop light, operating simultaneously with thecircuit-breakingdevices, and an independent circuit-closer connected tothe other pole of the stand or drop light for connecting the latter toany one of the general circuits at a point beyond the circuit-breaker.

9. The combination, substantially as described, of the insulating-plateP, attached to stem '1 and carrying the circuit-elosin g springs d, andspindle W, carrying circuit closing spring k, and movable independentlyof the stem T, so that connection may be made with any line-circuitpoint S before the circuit is broken by the turning of plate 1?.

10. The combination of the stem '1, insulating-plate P, circuit-closingsprings and plate d R, contact studs or points arranged about plate P,and connected in the manner described to the general circuits, to thedrop-light, and to the chandelier, and independently-movable spindle W,carrying circuit-closing spring.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 21st day of April, A. D. 1882.

WILLARD L. OANDEE.

Witnesses:

WM. El. CHURCH, ROBERT J. CUMMINGS.

